The BDE has submitted an expert opinion to the Federal Ministry of Economics on the recognition of the ‘recovery’ sub-sector.

According to a recent announcement, the BDE Bundesverband der Deutschen Entsorgungs-, Wasser- und Kreislaufwirtschaft (Federal Association of the German Waste Management, Water and Recycling Industry) is once again calling for the entire value chain of the recycling industry to be included in the planned industrial electricity price. The association had already repeatedly criticised the fact that numerous energy-intensive activities in the recycling industry are not yet covered by relevant support instruments. According to its own statements, it has now submitted a report prepared by PricewaterhouseCoopers Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft (PwC) to the Bundeswirtschaftsministerium (Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, BMWE), according to which the recycling sector also reaches or significantly exceeds the thresholds for the industrial electricity price provided for in the European legal framework. As background information, the BDE points out that, according to the European state aid framework ‘Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework’ (CISAF), member states can include other (sub)sectors in the scope of the industrial electricity price, provided that certain thresholds are met. The BDE emphasises that trade intensity, electricity intensity and their product at Union level are particularly relevant. According to the report, the ‘recovery’ sub-sector, with values for trade and electricity intensity of at least five per cent each, significantly exceeds the relevant two per cent threshold, as does the key figure for the product of both, according to the BDE.
 
‘The circular economy is essential for making Germany a resilient production location. The industrial electricity price is indispensable for ensuring that the circular economy in Germany can operate competitively and that investments can be initiated,’ explains Matthias Harms, acting president of the BDE. As an energy-intensive industry, the recycling industry is particularly affected by high energy prices. From the BDE's point of view, it is therefore the wrong signal to deny access to competitive electricity prices to companies in the circular economy, of all sectors, which, despite their high energy consumption, make a decisive contribution to CO₂ savings and securing raw materials, Harms continues.
 
Sources:

• Press release BDE (4.3.2026)
• Photo: © BDE